After wrestling a chunk of Bangalore traffic I arrived at The Den, ready to take on some delicacies. Firstly, there is no lion at The Den (pun intended) but beware: the food will compel you to roar, and no, it’s not a Katy Perry song.
The luxury hotel is located in the IT capital of the city, and will surprise you with its splendid interiors and friendly ambience, paired with the millennial vibes and courteous staff.
I have visited many restaurants in the city, and often wondered why buffet meal options were always limited. However, these concerns went screaming out the window as I feasted my eyes on the far-reaching food spread lined up,and the variety of choices left me flabbergasted.
From Arabic salads, bread, dips to Continental, Mediterranean and Chinese Culinary, to Indian bread and seafood, paired with an open grill coming alive with the hustle- bustle of eager foodies, The Creek had it all. The dessert counter featured another elaborate display of irresistible, bite-sized delights, from your classic mud cakes to delectable cakes and brownies, to Indian sweets like halwa.
I decided to let Executive Chef, Kapil Dubey, take over my culinary decisions, and it turned out to be an excellent decision. I started my journey with a tall glass of orange zesty drink and went on to the starters.
My decision to take it slow, was wise too, as, by the end of it all, I was left with the urge to gorge some more, but my appetite gave up. I started with the Slow Roasted Cauliflower soup, with a lovely maple foam and roasted almonds on the side, adding the much-needed crunch. It was light and filling, just how I like my starter to be.
We moved on to some Zesty flavours with The Creek Galouti Kabab (a Lucknow speciality) and Era Varuval (Fried Prawns). The lamb kebab was succulent and melt-in-your mouth delightful, while the Prawns were fried to get the perfect crunch as you bite into it. The spices were balanced, not too spicy, but enough to get your palate flaming.
Entrées started off with their signature bamboo chicken and flavoured rice, followed by a special Roast Rabbit Casserole. The Chicken was cooked tender and perfect, with the meat falling off its bones and complimented the rice. The slow-cooked Rabbit was a delicacy, and the sauce, made out of reduced wine and veggies, was to die for.
On the chef’s suggestion, I paired the casserole with some red wine, and the combination ticks off all columns in terms of flavour, acidity, and aroma.
Now for the favourite part of the review, Desserts. The chef brought out a pair of tempting desserts, and it was all about chocolate. The Manjari chocolate dessert looked sinfully delectable, paired with chocolate Torte dome, lemon and basil entremets. Visit The Den with your friends and family for a good time. After all, you only live once!
